THESIS TITLE

A Critique Paper Presented to

Engr. Anecita C. Palacios, PhD
Educ 212 Professor
St. Michael’s College
Iligan City

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements in the

Subject Methods of Research

By

__________________________________
March, 2019
 Specific Guide Questions for Evaluation Comments/ Critique
Area/Section
Abstract 1.Does it explain the purpose of the paper? 
2.Does it explain why the research was
carried out?
3.Does it include the main findings?
4.Is the significance of the study being
discussed?
5.Are the conclusions fitted to the findings?
6.Is the research method described briefly?
Problem 1. What is the problem and/or purpose of the 
statement and research study?
purpose 2. Does the problem or purpose statement
express a relationship between two or more
variables? If so, what is/are the
relationship(s)? Are they testable?
3. Does the problem statement and/or
purpose specify the nature of the population
being studied? What is it?
4. What significance of the problem, if any,
has the investigator identified?
Theoretical 1. What concepts are included in the review? 
framework/ Of particular importance, note those
Definition of concepts that are the independent and
Terms and dependent variables and how they are
Review of conceptually defined.
literature. 2. Does the literature review make the
relationships among the variables explicit or
place the variables within a
theoretical/conceptual framework? What are
the relationships?
3. What gaps or conflicts in knowledge of the
problem are identified?
4. Are the references cited by the author
mostly primary or secondary sources? Give
an example of each.
5. What are the operational definitions of the
independent and dependent variables? Do
they reflect the conceptual definitions?
6. Is the majority of the literature cited of
recent origin?
Hypotheses or 1. What hypotheses or research
research questions are stated in the study?
questions 2. If research questions are stated, are
they used in addition to hypotheses
or to guide an exploratory study?
3. What are the independent and
dependent variables in the statement
 of each hypothesis or research
question?
4. If hypotheses are stated, is the form
of the statement statistical (also
called null) or research?
5. What is the direction of the
relationship in each hypothesis, if
indicated?
6. Are the hypotheses testable?
Sample Size 1. How was the sample selected? 
and 2. What type of sampling method is used? Is
Respondents it appropriate to the design?
3. Does the sample reflect the population as
identified in the problem or purpose
statement?
4. Is the sample size appropriate?
5. To what population may the findings be
generalized? What are the limitations in
generalizability?
Research 1. What type of design is used? 
design 2. Does the design seem to flow from
the proposed research problem,
theoretical framework, literature
review, and hypothesis?
3. What type(s) of data -collection
method(s) is/are used in the study?
4. Are the data -collection procedures
similar for all subjects?
5. How have the rights of subjects been
protected?
6. What indications are given that
informed consent of the subjects has
been ensured?
Instruments 1. Is a rationale given for why a
particular instrument or method was
selected? If so, what is it? What
provision is made for maintaining the
accuracy of the instrument and its
use, if any?
2. Interviews: Who were the
interviewers? How were they trained
to minimize the bias? Is there
evidence of any interview bias? If so,
what was it?
3. Questionnaires: What is the type
and/or format of the
questionnaire(s) (e.g. Likert, open -
 ended)? Is (Are) it (they) consistent
with the conceptual definition(s)?
4. Available data and records: Are the
records that were used appropriate
to the problem being studied? Are
the data being used to describe the
sample or to test the hypothesis?
5. What type of reliability is reported
for each instrument?
6. What level of reliability is reported?
Is it acceptable?
7. What type of validity, if any, is
reported for each instrument?
Analysis of data 1. What level of measurement is used to 
measure each of the major variables?
2. What descriptive or inferential statistics
are reported?
3. Were these descriptive or inferential
statistics appropriate to the level of
measurement for each variable?
4. Are the inferential statistics used
appropriate to the intent of the hypotheses?
5. Does the author report the level of
significance set for the study? If so, what is it?
6. If tables or figures are used, do they meet
the following standards? Do they supplement
and economize the text? Do they have
precise titles and headings? Do they not
repeat the text?
Conclusions, 1. If hypothesis testing was done, was/were
implications, the hypotheses supported or not supported?
recommendati 2. Are the results interpreted in the context
ons. of the problem/purpose, hypothesis, and
theoretical framework/literature reviewed?
3. What relevance does the investigator
identify, if any?
4. What generalizations are made?
5. Are the generalizations within the scope of
the findings or beyond the findings?
6. What recommendations for future
research are stated or implied?
7. Are there other studies with similar
findings?
9. Is direct application of the research
findings feasible in terms of time, effort,
money, and legal/ethical risks?
 Reference List 1. Are all sources cited clearly and with 
full bibliographic details provided?
2. Does the list contain both classic and
more contemporary literature?
3. Does it follow the APA format?

Notes:

1. Use these guidelines to critique your selected research paper.

2. You do not need to address all the questions indicated in this guideline, and only include the
questions that apply.
3. Prepare your report as a paper with appropriate headings. No more than five pages in length,
including the cover page.